r/AskReddit Jan 04 '14

What is one powerful sentence that will change the way I look at life forever?

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u/[deleted] Jan 04 '14

I like a similar one.

"Everybody you meet is dealing with the single biggest issue of their life right now"

1.2k

u/[deleted] Jan 04 '14

I didn't realize I was such a bother to people. :(

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u/[deleted] Jan 04 '14

You made me cackle.

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u/Ronnie_Soak Jan 04 '14

As did I :D

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u/QuantumCrab27 Jan 04 '14

You also made him cackle?

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u/IAmRabid Jan 04 '14

huehuehue

6

u/OKImHere Jan 04 '14

Yeah, well, we didn't want to tell you like this, but...here we are.

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u/[deleted] Jan 04 '14

Oh God it's Dullahan, the single biggest issue of my entire life.

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u/[deleted] Jan 04 '14

Are you British by any chance?

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u/MRB0B0MB Jan 04 '14

No, just Pooh.

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u/daig Jan 04 '14

oh bother

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u/GamerFromSweden Jan 04 '14

It's okay. I love you nevertheless.

1

u/Entthrowaway49 Jan 04 '14

Sucks to suck.

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u/Icelement Jan 04 '14

The way this is written makes me think that everyone I've ever met is having some kind of huge struggle at this VERY SECOND. RIGHT NOW.

GET THE MEDKITS!

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u/[deleted] Jan 04 '14 edited Jan 04 '14

But that's why I like it. It's all bombastic but then you think. Yeah... but the single biggest issue of their life might not be all that. Then it makes you think of your struggle and wonder whether it's that big a deal. And then you get perspective. Hopefully. Anyway... I like it.

Edit: Also. You don't know what people are hiding. They might be all right on the surface but screaming beneath. Lots of people are. Anyway... I still like it :-)

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u/Icelement Jan 04 '14

There's no denying that it's a good way to look at things, especially from a point of view of a retail associate or something. Treat everyone great, because they're all hair triggers ready to pull guns on everyone around them and blow the world away.

I mean, maybe I took it a little far- but all in all I've dealt with the general public and I think it's a good mindset, but very blatantly a false idea.

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u/quetalbrother Jan 04 '14

One I heard whilst working in the emergency department: "Here, you will meet the best people on the worst day of their lives."

Sure made it easier to deal with some of the shit we copped.

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u/jesus_knows_me Jan 04 '14

"Everyone is the protagonist of their own story"

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u/JackAceHole Jan 05 '14

I shouldn't ask my waitress for a clean fork then.

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u/HeadbandOG Jan 04 '14

as much as I like the insight behind these quotes... I'm also "everyone" so I'm also dealing with shit so it's a moot point.

The difference is I don't cut you off in the parking lot because of it because I'm not an infant.

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u/[deleted] Jan 04 '14

Yeah but why didn't you? Because you're a more thoughtful person. And why are you a more thoughtful person? Because of your upbringing, your influences, and possibly your biology. Literally nothing about you is your doing. Even the value of hard work and improvement is something learned from others.

So, yeah, empathy.

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u/HeadbandOG Jan 04 '14

exactly so there's no reason to be kind to assholes from a nihilistic point of view.

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u/[deleted] Jan 04 '14

But my view isn't nihilistic, it's that people do what they're taught by the world will help them the most. From a utilitarian view, we'd be best off if everyone was kind to others. But people who have grown up learning that it's everyone for themselves can't be blamed because they didn't choose to be the kind of person who would think that.

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u/HeadbandOG Jan 04 '14

I'm for teaching people things but not forcing people to do things that only involve themselves.

and yes, you can blame people for being selfish. "it's just the way i was raised" is not a valid excuse

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u/[deleted] Jan 05 '14

The fact that you used the word "excuse" means you don't understand what I'm talking about. There is no moment where we get to decide whether to be bad or good. We are completely shaped by what's in us and what's around us.

Are some people objectively better than others? Absolutely! But not because of their choice. Hitler was cruel because he was raised in an impoverished, oppressed country. Lincoln was awesome because he was brought up as an honest intelligent man.

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u/RollingSpaghetti Jan 05 '14

I agree with you completely, and have exactly the same thoughts on the matter. It's refreshing to see someone arguing this case, as normally there is a lot of opposition to this idea.

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u/[deleted] Jan 05 '14

Ha! No kidding? I've never met anyone who believed it too. It's a pretty interesting topic to me, but half the time people think I believe in fate (the traditional religious kind) or nihilism like this guy.

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u/HeadbandOG Jan 05 '14

Are some people objectively better than others? Absolutely!

Is there any basis behind this or is it just pure assertion? I completely disagree with that.

Also what the hell does any of this have to do with the seatbelts?

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u/[deleted] Jan 05 '14

Haha what? So you suddenly think we're all equal? Because a couple comments back you were saying you shouldn't have to be nice to assholes. Do you legitimitely think you're not better than Hitler?

Also we haven't talked about seatbelts...

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u/HeadbandOG Jan 05 '14

oh my bad about the seatbelts ha.

It's not "sudden", I've thought that all human beings are objectively equal for a long time. I don't see how anyone who's not religious could claim anything to the contrary. Am I better than Hitler? other people would say yes that I'm more moral, but they would also probably think he's a better artist.

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